New Eurobarometer survey on youth: ideas from young people for Europe

On the occasion of the closing event of the New Narrative for Europe initiative European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Tibor Navracsics received young people to discuss their views on the future of Europe.

Around 100 young people from across Europe presented their concrete ideas on how to give Europe a bright future, following discussions young people held over the last two years. The project reached as many as 62,000 young people through a series of debates taking place Europe-wide.

The ideas presented were tested in a recent Eurobarometer survey on youth to check their resonance with a broader group of young people. The survey, which consulted about 11,000 citizens aged 15 to 30 in September 2017 shows that they mostly agree with the need to:

Promote critical thinking and the ability to search for information to combat fake news and extremism (49%);

Give easy access to information about moving and working abroad (49%);

Promote behavioural change through environmentally-friendly initiatives such as sustainable transport or recycling systems across Europe (40%).

Other main findings of the Eurobarometer include:

More than half of young Europeans consider education and skills as the top priority that the EU should tackle. Environmental protection and fighting climate change come second, followed by employment, and the management of migratory flows and integration of refugees;

Young people have been more active than in the previous survey which took place in December 2014. 31% of respondents stated that they had been involved in organised voluntary activities in the last 12 months;

More than half are involved in organisations such as sports clubs, youth clubs or local NGOs.